Tag Archives: coconut oil

Date squares were one of my favourite snacks when I was a kid. My mom would make them regularly and the whole house would be filled with a sweet, buttery aroma. She was strict about junk food and never bought any sugary cereals, cookies or candies. As an adult I’m really thankful that I was raised in a healthy household. My eating habits are generally well balanced, and I tend to favour savoury and salty, treating desserts as an indulgence. I have my mom to thank for that. And I also have her to thank for my love of date squares! I tried to recreate my childhood dessert with these Healthy Gluten Free Date Squares. Why are they gluten free you may wonder? Well because April is detox time!

Healthy Gluten Free Date Squares

For me, detox is a time to restart the system and shed bad habits, but is also an opportunity to experiment with my favourite recipes and turn them into cleanse friendly foods. These date squares use gluten free flour and oats, and are sweetened with honey and a few drops of liquid Stevia. I replaced the butter with coconut oil, that still results in a light, buttery crumble. Additionally, I also included some coconut flour to bring out a bit of sweet coconut flavour. Because, more coconut is always a good thing!

Healthy Gluten Free Date Squares

These Healthy Gluten Free Date Squares are an awesome detox snack because they’re completely cleanse friendly without sacrificing any of the date square tastiness. Creamy dates are sandwiched between soft, sweet and flaky crumble with hints of coconut and citrus. Packed full of iron, fiber and magnesium, dates are also said to help with intestinal issues, reduce allergies and can also help to maintain weight, a healthy heart, and aid in sexual stamina. High in natural sugars and protein, these date squares are a great energy boost pre-work out or a yummy recovery snack post work out.

So basically, you can’t go wrong with these babies. Gimme gimme all of them date squares!

Healthy Gluten Free Date Squares

A healthy, post work out snack, these gluten free dates squares are easy to make and are full of delicious nutrients.

Course
Dessert, Snack

Cuisine
healthy, Vegan

Prep Time15minutes

Cook Time25minutes

Total Time40minutes

Servings25

Calories190kcal

Ingredients

2cupsParnoosh dateschopped

3/4cupwater

1teaspoonlemon juicefreshly squeezed

1.5cupsgluten free flour

1/2cupcoconut flour

1.5cupsBob's Red Mill Gluten Free Old Fashioned Rolled Oats

1/4teaspoonsea salt

1cupcoconut oil, plus more for greasingmelted

3/4cuporganic honey

2dropsliquid Stevia

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375F. Grease a 9" square baking dish.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, boil water. Add dates and stir constantly with a wooden spoon until water is absorbed and dates are smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the lemon juice. Set aside.

Combine the flours, oats and salt. Add coconut oil, then honey (using the same cup, so that the syrup will slide right out) and liquid Stevia. Mix until crumbly but still moist.

Divide crumb mixture into two portions and press one half firmly into the pan to make the base. Using a spatula, carefully spread the date mixture evenly over top. Add the remaining crumb mixture on top by taking small bits and placing them carefully over the dates. Do not spread. Lightly press down the top layer evenly with your hands.

Bake on the center oven rack for 25 minutes until lightly brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Cut into 25 squares. Store in the fridge in a sealed container for up to one week or freeze up to two months. Best served at room temperature.

Healthy Gluten Free Date Squares

What was your favourite childhood snack? How is your spring cleanse going?

What are some of your favourite detox substitutions? I would love to know!

A few weeks ago I headed out to Winona for their annual Peach Festival and spent the afternoon immersed in all things peaches! From pies to jams to a very indulgent giant peach ice cream sundae, it was a lovely way to spend an afternoon. I came home with ten pounds of peaches and my friend and I have since started to learn about canning and have been experimenting with jams (fair warning: everyone is getting peach jam for Christmas this year!). I had some leftover peaches and decided to make a peach crisp. I love cornmeal and felt as though the sweetness of the corn would be a nice compliment to my sweet, super ripe peaches.

I wanted to make this dessert on the healthy side, and was inspired to use the sample of coconut oil I had received from Cocozia as a substitute for butter. 100% organic, unrefined and cold-pressed, Cocozia’s extra-virgin coconut oil has a rich coconut scent, has a smooth, creamy texture and doesn’t melt at room temperature. I added some almonds for protein and replaced some of the brown sugar with maple syrup.

Healthy Cornmeal Peach Crisp

This peach crisp is the perfect comfort dessert for fall. The sweet, syrupy peaches & berries are nicely caramelized underneath a golden, cornmeal crust with hints of buttery coconut.

For the filling:

4large ripe peachescore removed, finely sliced

½cupblueberriespreferably fresh

¼cupmaple syrup

1 ½tablespoonscorn starch

1teaspoonfresh lemon juice

¼teaspoonsea salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375F.

In a large bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients for the topping, except for the crushed almonds. Slowly incorporate the coconut oil. Drizzle the coconut water over top and mix well with your hands, the topping should stay together when you pinch some between your fingers. Add a bit more water if necessary.

In a 3QT glass baking dish, mix together the peaches, blueberries, lemon juice and maple syrup. Sprinkle the cornstarch, cinnamon and salt over top and carefully stir the filling.

With your hands, pick up small handfuls of the topping and place gently over of the filling, spreading each piece out evenly until the filling is covered.

Sprinkle the almonds over top.

Bake in oven for 15-17 minutes or until golden brown and bubbling along the edge.

Let stand 10-15 minutes before serving.

Just a side note: I actually bought a second jar of Cocozia coconut oil and have been using it as a body moisturizer, hair mask and makeup remover – it’s amazing! I love the smell and my skin is nice and soft. I love using an all-natural, multi-purpose ingredient for my beauty needs!

Greetings & salutations! My name is Paula and I love to write, eat brains, watch scary movies and make fake blood. I'm always on the lookout for my next adventure, and preparing for the zombie apocalypse.